Sheet-metal fire-resisting closure.



J. BROGDEN & J. W. WATKINS. SHEET METAL FIRE RESISTING CLOSURE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.22| 908.

Patented May 18, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

l N V E N T O R S: Jol /1 917060511 A an m mam/m v lfl niiitrnn sTATEs PATENT QFFICE.

JOQLH BRGGDEN AND JOHN W. WATKINS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. ASSIGN- URS TO DAVID LUPTONS SONS COMI'ANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A

CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SHEET-METAL FIRE-RESISTINQ CLOSURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1.8, 1915.

Application filer; August 22. 1908. Serial No. 449,819.

Jon W'. Nani-g1 oflhiladelphia, in the ity oi ll'lihidelphia and State of Penn- 1min. have invented certain new and usel liii])i'()-'(ili'llltf in Sheet-Metal Fire-Re- (h-sures. of which the following is a smasheslion, reference being had to the ac- (ompsnying drawings.

ln any considerable superficial area of a closure is made of an integral piece of metal the entire sheet of metal bends or warps when attacked by fire, and thereby the fire filial-ting capacity of the closure is destroyed. We have discovered that it is possible to finm a clwure by so combining a series of sheet metal parts presenting comparatively small superficial areas as to practically overcome this injurious tendency of the closure to warp. This due to the difi'erent action under the influence of heat of a solid metallic sheet compared with a sectional one. lh' fol-mm whatever bend or set one part trim the heat is communicated to and in all parts, so that its edges may many inches out of true. But a snrtional sheet of the same size, if properly coi-strnctml according to our invention, will not so act, for the bending or warping oi one see on is not communicated to ad joining sea. ens, each of which warps, if at all, quite independently of the others, and usually along different lines, so that although heat may corrugatc or Wrinkle the surface of the sectional plate, it does not materially disaline the edges of the plate.

(lur invention relates to a sheet metal Closure containing no combustible material, and having: its superiicics so built up by the union of a nun'iher of smaller sheet metal parts that under the influence of intense heat. the closure does not injuriously warp or hcnrl. lint. in order to accomplish the end oi our invention, it is essential that the all; ining edges of these smaller sheets,

niullipln Lion of parts shall not destroy tl lire l'fiSlbtil": properties of the closure, by alibi-ding J ts through which the fire .2 i be so interlocked, as that the multitzon e? lo winch is occasioned by' ill:

may find its way. And for this reason it is essential to our invention that the com ponent sheets are not merely overlapped or riveted together, since, under the influence of intense heat, such joints readi part and permit the fire to pass with unbuttoning of the rivets. Accordingly, in our invention, theabutting edges of the discontzmu'uis Sheets are to be united or interlocked by a continuous inter-folding of the edges. w by one edge is received within the fol. the other, and both edges turned in from the external surface of the closure. lrlucli a closure may be employed to 010 2 Window or other opening tin-on Uzi: it is desired that a fire, whether our. i'ziu? Within or Without the building, shall not pass.

W'e have illustrated our invention as an plied to a sliding lire door, but it will he understood that the scope oi the invention is not thus limited.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I, is a front elevation of a sliding fire door one bodying our invention. Fig. II, is a vertical cross section along the line ll, ll, of Fig. I. Fig. III, is a similar section a ong the line III, III, of Fig. I. Fig. IV, i a, broken horizontal section along the. line l ll, of Fig. I, and Fig. V, is a SPCtlOlUl i low illustrating the construction of one of the laminate-d strengthening plates inserted at the edges of the structure as hereinafter explained.

Referring to Fig. I, thecimoi' 1, is provided With metal straps 2, 2, in which pulleys are journaled running on the bar or track 3-, in appropriate relation to the top of the aperture 4, to permit the door to be run along the track to close or open it. 21 catch 5, stops the door when it has been slid to the closing position, and a rolls-r 6, holds the lower corner of the door in place.

The door itself is formed wholly of noncombustible material, and as herein, shown, consists of separated faces which are built up by combining a number of horizontal metal strips or pieces 10, 10, of compara tively shall superficial area. 'lfhe pieces are connected solely by infolding. and then infolded as seen in Fig. IV.

terlocking the infolded adjacent edges of the pieces. The folds on oneface are preferably turned up, and on the other face turned down, thereby slightly staggerin the same. '1 his interlocking of the edges i orm's folds 11, 11, on the inner sides of the faces, as clearly shown in Figs. 11 and III.

The metal-pieces are of sufiicient weight and strength so as to be self-sustaining. That is, these interlocked metal pieces will. without the use of the objectionable central wooden core, or the objectionable strengtlr eningbo'lts running throu h the entire door, form a substantially rigi door body. The interlocked joints between the metal pieces also serve as the sole means for connecting said metal pi eces.

The two uppermost facing strips are united over the top by a centrally depressed top piece 12, provided with upwardly extending walls 13, resting between the top facing strips, and having their upper edges interlocked by folds 14, with the upper edges of the facing strips. In this way the top depressed below the upper edge, the space thus afforded permitting the door to be hung in such relation to the track '3, that its edges rise slightly above the lower edge of the track, so that in case'the straps 2, 2, should give way, the closure would still be held against the aperture by the engagement of these edges with the track.

The bottom of the door is formed by a similar centrally elevated bottom piece 15, provided with downwardly extending walls 16, resting between the lowermost facing strips, and having their lower edges inter locked by folds 17, with the lower edges of the facing strips, thus forming an arched bottom which is useful as a flame trap, preventing a slight flame from creeping dircctly beneath the door.

The sides of the door are formed of side pieces 26, having their edges interlocked by folds 27, with the ends of the facing strips.

For the more effectual union and strength ening of the facing strips they are interiorly braced by verticaLp-artitions as follows To the inner side of each face of the closure are riveted vertical flange strips 18, bent to provide one portion for riveting to the facing strips, and another portion which is The flange strips on the opposite facings correspond with each other, and each pair are united by a union 20,.the folded edges of which interlock with and thus unite the folded edges of the two flange pieccslS, as seen in the drawing. These unions 20, may be slid into place vertically after the faces of the door are otherwise fully assembled. Thev vertical. flange strips 18, are riveted to the horizontal facing strips by rivets which pass through the thickened parts of the structure occs eed by the double folded interlocks 11, whereby the rivets serve the double function of firmly securing the interlock and also securing the flange strips in place. It will be observed that the vertical partitions thus formed by combining the flange strips and the unions are composite in their nature, each formed by the interfoldin of a plurality of sheet metal parts with t eir major surfaces at t angles to the outer surface of the clue iently affording a maximum re inst warping of the surface of An integral bolt or rod ally through structure we: i d 0.. warp under heat. But a con partition made of sheets arming ores se to the thickness of the closure does not are such tendency.

The number of [1 rtitions depends upon the extent to which it is desired to strengthen the door. We preter t-o. place one partition in immediate proxin'ity to each edge of the door, leaving suilici nt space beyond them and the side piece to permit the slipping in of a laminated ngthening piece 22, the structure of which i shown in cross section in Fig. V, being on up of three pieces of sheet metal, the t o lower pieces 23, 23, as seen in the draw hcing narrower strips, while the upper one of width and has its edges bent around and under to unite all three strips together. A laminated strip of this construction and thus placed athwart the plane of door has great resistance to torsional or warping strains, and by being placed along either edge of the door greatly reinforces its power of resistance to forces tending to disturb the elineroent of the edges of the door.

A closure constructed. as has thus been described acts quite dilierently under the influence of heat from one having any con siderable superficial area composed of a single sheet. It does not Warp a whole and therefore its e es remain in alinement and effectually close whatever aperture it is applied to, notwitb riding such harmless wrinkling or corru- .112 of the individual plates as may on a: At the same time the strengthening partitions and the laminated are applied to odor great resistance to torsional warping strains.

lVc ai i not new to make a so-called closure of wooden parts each separate} sheathed with metal and then united. Such a closure is entirely different from our invention, not only because our closure employs no combustible material, but because wood so sheathed is subject to destructive distillation under the influence of high. temperatures, generating gaseous pressure which causes the bursting of the metallic sheath and the complete destruction of the cl We are also an re of hollow sheet metal composite structures constructed for cardlie mama-4e barracks as illustrated in United States iiet iii; i m we. those tors Patent- No. 376,979. to De dated January 24th, 1888, hut, structures the edges of the s iect l united by overlapping and riw I simple overlapping, without that inloi and inter lding of the sheets which is Pat-i311- tial in a structure which is ll-signal espc cially as a ire resisting closurel(l;l!ll,'*(l tr; maintain a pnrt'unce.

*1? r invention relates solely to closures h which ue mean a structure of considerable area intended to close an aperture against fire by the maintenance of close contact between the edges of the closure and the edges surrounding the apertiu'c.

It will also be understood. that our strum turc is differentiated from the Wooden structures, to which reference is made. by ahscnue ot' combustible material h action will he pointed out in tv e claims: hr the use of the phrase a nou-coiulmstible ct metal closure. If desired the hollow parta of our closure may be rendered slightly more non-conductive of heat by the insertion of rolls. of asbestos pap r or other noi'i-hcat conducting and lire rez... terials, but such materials are non tibia and therefore excluded by the (ilfijtlilttti\ "arm which We shall employ in the l i ring thus described our invention, we c a 2m z-- it in a tire resisting closure in combinetion :et metal non-integral surfaces, and composite partitions uniting the same at intervals, formed by the interlocking o-f a union with two corresponding flangfze pieces atliacil one to each Sl,!l'fi1"9.

A hollow fire-resistinc wholly of non-combustihic materi colitis! ing of separated faccs, each of, which. is composed of a number of sheet metal pieces of comparatively small superfiz'ziai area of sufficient Weight and strength to be self-sustaining, said pieces being connected together by the in'lolding and interi'olding oi the adjacent edges of said pic. and composite partitions formed by intertidalin sheet metal parts, said partition l ving fastened to the metal pieces forming: the fares by rivets which pass through no intcrfoldcd edges of said pieces.

3. Al hollrnv fire-resisting closure formed closure formed. l and "whol of n nwtnl'iiislilile ("(Eilf liv'ilflif of s compo ed of 1 sheet fuel-ll piece a-mpcrlia ial area.

mater al and l ii of l eh i'illllllK." o1 i-rll mzstaining oi c inparaii el small '1 pieces twine connected t gether by the nil-aid ng and iniertolding of the adjacent cd oi said pieces and par tiiions extending at an angle to the K h", Red cdg'cs nil metal pirv intorlm'ln l cdcrs. and rircted thereto.

4. A door comprising a hollow body two partition spacing mcinhrrs secured rcspec tirely to opposite inner sides of t c had ntermediate r oppcszte dges oi the body each s acing member ha. ing a lateral flange which abuts against the flange of the other spacing member, each tlauirc having a por tion turned toward the side of the. body to nhich tho n orhh is secured, oral u channel nscu'ilmr ha ing: ii'rn'ardly turned flanges 'uch embrace the ilangcs of said spncingfi members and hold said members from iclatire lateral mrn'rment and from movement away from each other.

4'. A door cuprising hollow body, two

partition spoon nu-ml eis ()l channel form hasingtlwir on flange ,--sccurc l rcspectia'cl to opposite inner has ot the body intermediate oz oppwite 1. es of ihe body, and a meinhcr having hum-lo i'ncnt with thciicnui' Elan :1:

lateral irom hers tor lioliiingj them from rci: mini-omit and Run tommncul cach other.

(t A door mun-i" partition uorine no having thoi iltx'i t, tircly to opp to inn int rinmlnite n i ng a hollow body, two

'1 channel uncured sides of th= :(ly

F ot the body their outer l" o ni-osite inner t no of opposite c: u. nwznhcr having its imam fl mill) :1 portion monka n,

Hzzl I of said meridian; :i'id :2. channel Ill lJUl' having inwardly turned ll2lYlZ V-l er braving! the inuardlr turned poriunrs of tin:

inner flanges ol tlu HIE memhr 1140 8y A door iimlllll lfi hoho oony two partition channel 2n=-rrih rs sw ircd res-pee" intcrnlmlime cl opposilc edger; oi the hody the inner lioiriZUH of wi l nit-when; living; dis 1 pouwl llill'iil lfl with and abutting: :igziii'ist each other. each of said inner flanges llflV- 111,2 :2 portion pro ecting toward the outer 

